Slideshow: Blaze destroys pole barn on Nowak Road

January 12, 2010

Story by Michael Jones Photos courtesy of Ivan Witt Produced by Frank Michels

LIVINGSTON TWP. — A pole barn near a Livingston Township residence was already engulfed in flames when firefighters from the Otsego County Fire Department (OCFD) arrived Saturday around 8:14 a.m. Fire chief Dave Duffield said James O’Rourke, owner of the barn, called Otsego County 9-1-1 to report the blaze at 5777 Nowak Road. Duffield said the fire resulted in a total loss of the structure and was caused by a wood-burning furnace which was used to heat the barn and two nearby homes. According to Duffield, the owner had loaded the wood stove around 5:30 a.m., approximately two and a half hours before firefighters responded to the scene. The building was unoccupied when O’Rourke reported the fire around 8 a.m. Duffield said the entire building sustained fire, smoke and water damage. Several lawn tractors, a pickup and a large number of hand tools were damaged as a result of the fire. The fire chief said the barn was used by the owner as a workshop. The OCFD was assisted by the Vanderbilt-Corwith Township Fire Department, Elmira-Warner Township Fire Department, Charlton Township Fire Department, Otsego County EMS/Rescue and the Gaylord Michigan State Police. There were no injuries and Duffield said the fire was brought under control around 10 a.m. and firefighters were on the scene for about 3 hours.